Injury to projected starter could trigger free-for-all at Rams training camp

The Los Angeles Rams may not be facing season-ending injuries yet. But the frequency of minor mishaps, bumps, and bruises is far too rapid to remain sustainable. The team wants to be cautious and pull players with minor injuries from practice to avoid complicating the matter with an even more serious injury.

As one or two players become a half dozen, then a full dozen, the attrition rate is hampering the ability of the team to get meaningful practices in training camp. That is a problem, particularly when injuries begin to impact veteran free agent additions who appear to be honing in on a starting role for the team.

One of the latest injuries, a calf injury to veteran ILB Nate Landman, is alarming in that he is the projected starting signal-caller for the defense and the starting inside linebacker:

Nate Landman's lingering injury will test Rams depth chart at ILB

LA invested in the linebacker position in the offseason. While the team returned three inside linebackers from 2024, and resigned veteran Troy Reeder, the Rams front office signed FA ILB Nate Landman, drafted rookie ILB Pooh Paul Jr., and signed collegiate undrafted free agent Shaun Dolac.

The thing is, with so many new faces, the iterations of two inside linebackers pairing up as starters are numerous. And training camp was originally intended to sort through those variations to determine the optimal pair to handle the risks of stuffing the run while providing superb pass coverage.

The team seemed to be centering on Landman as the primary starter, which allowed the team to mix and match other linebackers into the defense to determine who was the best fit. But with his unexpected injury, the team will need to pause that work for now. In a worst-case scenario, the defense will need to start over at square one.

Thankfully, previously injured rookie Pooh Paul Jr. returned to practice after his calf injury. Paul needs reps to make up for lost time, as he is a rookie who not only needs the work but also needs the opportunity to prove to the Rams' coaches that he can perform in this defense.

With Landman out for the immediate future, the green dot (defensive play-calling duties) will likely be handled by last year's starter, Omar Speights. But the team may view veteran Troy Reeder as best suited for the role.

Rams fans hope that the temporary absence of Landman will allow rookies Paul Jr. and Dolac to make inroads to a roster spot and a contributing role for 2025. After losing Ernest Jones IV to a trade in 2024, fans have been hoping for a hard-hitting tackling machine to handle the heart of the defense.

Another injury to projected starter Nate Landman puts the Rams' defensive depth to the test. Rams fans are left to hope that the ILB room passes that test. As so often before, I thank you for reading.

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